When Student Ambassadors Kanishka Shivaram, Mingyue Ma, and Patsachon Niyomthai were searching for a master’s program in marketing, all three were focused on factors that would give them the most significant advantage in the working world.

Ranked second in the world on the QS Worldwide Rankings, the ESSEC MSc Marketing Management and Digital (MMD) stood out immediately.

However, the program’s location in Singapore sealed the deal for the three. Here are three reasons why.

1 | Singapore’s Location Advantage

Having lived in India her whole life, Kanishka viewed the opportunity to be closer to her hometown as an ideal choice.

“I would get to enjoy the best of both worlds by meeting peers from different countries, but I would still remain in my comfort zone, as Singapore has a similar culture to Asia,” she explains.

In addition, she adds, “Singapore is one of the best places in the world to live. Besides having a perfect blend of Western and Eastern cultures, it is also one of the safest cities in the world and a hotspot for global firms.”

With goals of working at a luxury brand, FMCG company, or even a marketing agency upon graduation, she felt Singapore’s reputation as a global business hub made it ideal for her to network and build connections for the future.

2 | A Chance to Immerse in Diverse Cultures

Mingyue, who comes from China and hopes to carve out an international career, concurs.

“The opportunity to immerse myself in a multicultural environment while gaining a world-class education in business was an irresistible combination that aligned perfectly with my career aspirations,” she declares.

She added that she was confident that ESSEC’s European roots and diverse student body would ensure that she would not lose international exposure despite living in Asia.

Any concerns she had about adapting to the diverse cultural environment were also quickly put to rest, credit to ESSEC’s emphasis on creating opportunities for students to mingle.

Kanishka agrees. “The school puts a lot of effort into helping us experience our classmates’ rich and diverse cultural backgrounds,” she says.

“For instance, it held a Global Village where students from different countries set up food stalls with dishes from their home countries. It was a great environment for a wonderful exchange of cultures!”

Patsachon, who hails from Thailand, adds that ESSEC’s emphasis on group work was also ideal for their cultural learning.

“When I worked at multinational companies like Agoda, I saw the importance of working with people from different cultures, learning from and collaborating with them.

So, during the MMD program, it’s wonderful to work with people from different countries on projects and discussions,” she explains.

3 | Personalized Support

Last, the three have also gained easy access to personal support, made possible by Singapore’s smaller faculty and professor-to-student ratio.

“I like that each time we approach a professor, they are accommodating and willing to advise us,” Pastaschon says.

Kaniksha agrees, noting that this has been particularly beneficial for her career search thus far.

“I have had a lot of one-on-one discussions with the MMD career advisor, Nicholas Lim. He has helped me delve in-depth into my resume and understand my strengths and weaknesses that would be put to practical use in my career,” she says.

Looking back at her short time in the MMD program, she has no regrets. “Singapore is one of the best places on earth to live, and I feel privileged to be a part of this highly selective MMD cohort!”